Chapter 119 - Return of the Nation's Idol

It took another week for KJ to be discharged. Even though he was still using a walking stick, the movement in his muscles has returned and they no longer ached. 

As soon as he exited the hospital, thousands of fans greeted him. The buildings around the hospital had large posters dangling from the rooftop with 'Welcome back KJ' written on them in giant letters. The screams and shouts of the fans were deafening. 

Cameras flashed around him as reporters tried to hoard him.

"KJ, can you tell us who shot you?" one of them asked.

"Did you see the assailant?" another one demanded.

"Was it really an anti-fan?" 

But they were being kept away from him by the guards and police. The security around him was tightened by ten folds; both Abyss and Mystic Entertainment provided their personnel which included trusted teams from the police, army and even secret service agents. 

The crowd was still uncontrollable. Their favorite idol had returned from the brink of death. Groups of fans began to sing EXOTIC's famous songs to welcome him. The sight of the crowd was overwhelming.

KJ was not surprised by the reception but was certainly feeling suffocated. Even though he was grateful to his fans for embracing him like this, it was too much for him to endure after being in a coma for so long. He got accustomed to the silence and peace of his hospital stay. Facing this overbearing crowd was starting to get to his nerves.

Thankfully, he had one person who was quite capable of handling the rogue fans.

"LET OPPA GO THROUGH YOU OBSESSED IDIOTS!" Psycho thundered at the hardcore fans who were trying to push and pull their way towards KJ. "I'll beat you all with my EXOTIC glow stick!"

He held Jade in one arm and a large, EXOTIC glow stick in another. He waved the stick around to clear the way, scaring away anyone who tried to get closer to KJ. "Get back!" he warned some fans. "No photos! I'll ban you all from the fandom club! I am the President after all..."

Psycho turned back towards KJ.

"Don't worry oppa!" he exclaimed happily. "I know how to handle these idiots. I've thrown away so many of them out of your concerts! This is nothing!"

"Who'll throw you away?" KJ muttered. But Psycho effectively managed to clear the way for him, enabling KJ to reach a highly secured limo which was waiting for him. 

Taking Jade from Psycho's arm, he hurriedly entered the car. To his mild surprise, the members of EXOTIC were there along with Hyun Jung, a masked Mirae and her friend Heroine. 

"I thought you guys were busy," KJ said as Dasom gave him a hug. 

"And miss your homecoming?" Ash smiled as he too hugged his friend. "Not a chance!"

"Yeah, we're having a welcome back party at your house!" Jinhyun exclaimed.

"That was supposed to be a surprise!" Mirae said crossly.

"You couldn't keep it in Jinhyun?" Hyun Jung groaned.

"Typical," Ash sighed.

"Hey!" Jinhyun protested. "I'm just excited."

They began to bicker to and forth as the car sped up. KJ shook his head and looked outside. Thousands of fans lined up to welcome him .They showered confetti on the car as it passed by, screaming "Welcome back Nation's Idol" on top of their lungs. KJ smiled, waving at some of them with gratitude.

"You fought a long battle," Ash commented. The others were still arguing on what to do for the party. "Are you happy to be back?"

"Very," KJ responded as he stroked Jade who was purring in his arms. 

"Thanks for saving my life," Ash said very quietly. 

"You'd have done the same for me," KJ replied. A look of understanding passed between the two men which was not missed by Mirae.

"Heroine, you're here too?" KJ asked. They had only met once that too very briefly.

"CEO invited me," Heroine replied. Mirae frowned at her lie. Somi herself had requested to be there in her disguise. But Mirae did not say anything. 

Hyun Jung, too, frowned. Her voice sounded familiar to him…

"The more the merrier!" Dasom declared. "We're all gonna celebrate!"

KJ shook his head, smiling. 

"Let me hold Jade for you," Mirae offered. Thanking her, he handed the cat over to her. She and Heroine squealed at Jade, playing with his fur.

"He's so cute!" Heroine said in delight. "But doesn't his eyes look like yours, CEO?"

"Now that you mention it…" Dasom leaned over, examining the cat. "Wasn't it weird? Jade also slipped into a coma with KJ?"

KJ shifted a little in his seat. "I told you, he was sick already," he lied. "My condition probably worsened his mental state and he too went into a coma."

"Yeah, but he woke up at the same time as you," Ash frowned. "I've heard of strange phenomenon like this before. Owners and their pets getting linked on an emotional level which starts to affect them physically as well. The pet becoming sick at the same time as the owner. I've never believed such things but this is the first time I'm actually seeing this…"

"Nonsense!" Jinhyun scoffed. "It's as KJ said. Jade is an old cat. He was probably sick for a while. It's a good thing he was treated by the hospital's vet."

"But this cat is attached to you KJ," Mirae said as she cuddled Jade in her lap. "He wouldn't let anyone separate him from you. Everytime a doctor or guard tried to take him out of the room, he would scratch the hell out of their faces!"

KJ did not respond but he was worried about Jade's spirit. He did not know how long it would take for the soul to heal. Until then, Jade would be like a normal cat. 

"He must be really attached to you," Heroine said, scratching Jade's ear. The cat clearly enjoyed the attention as it meowed happily.

"He's like a son to me," KJ replied.

Everyone looked up at him. They knew KJ was attached to this cat but never knew the extent of his attachment. It was the first time he publicly acknowledged how much Jade meant to him. 

"Looks like KJ has a heart," Dasom said in awe.

"He always did," Ash corrected him. He turned to KJ. "I'm glad you've recovered."

KJ smiled at him. Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine. A familiar feeling dawned upon him. 

He turned around to glance outside, but all he saw was the queues of fans, eagerly trying to see him through the tinted glass.

"What happened?" Ash asked.

"Nothing," KJ replied. "So about the party…"

For the rest of the way, they excitedly discussed the party they had planned for KJ. 

…..

As the confetti fell on the limo which was passing by, fans screamed in joy. They wanted to touch the car, get a glance of their idols. Their prayers and hopes were finally fulfilled: their idol had recovered. The colors of joy were everywhere as the whole nation celebrated KJ's return.

In the midst of the celebration, stood a grey haired man, wearing a long trench coat. He quietly observed the black limo passing by. 

"How come you didn't try to kill him today?" Teppei asked. He was standing right next to his boss.

"It would be no fun to kill him when he is at the happiest point of his life," Ziko replied, sipping on some coffee. "Let him fall to the depths of a living hell. Then he has our permission to die."